The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has alleged that terrorists perpetrating violence in the North West are either from the North East or those who were released under the purported rehabilitation programme of the Federal Government.
This is just as CAN asked the security agencies in the country to leave no stone unturned in their protection of all churches in Zamfara State in order to prevent the terrorists from carrying out their threats against Christians.
CAN said the State Police Command reportedly confirmed that a threat letter was sent to the Christians in the state asking them to stop worship and to close down churches or risk their violent attacks.
“We also learnt that it was the Police that even informed the state chapter of the Association about the threat,” CAN said in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Barr Joseph Daramola.
The statement said “we know that all kidnappings and other criminalities being perpetrated in the Northwestern part of the country are the handiwork of terrorists who either migrated from the Northeast or those who were released under the purported rehabilitation programme of the Federal government.
“Now that a Federal High Court has labelled those criminals terrorists, we call on the Police, the military authorities and other security agencies to rise up to the challenge of the terrorists who have turned kidnappings into the biggest business venture in the geopolitical zone.
The way and manners by which our security agencies have been handling those criminals are totally unacceptable, reprehensible and unprecedented.
“Criminals are criminals irrespective of their religious, political and ethnic affiliations and they should be treated as just. We also called on the Department of State Security and the Inspector General of Police to Investigate those who are speaking for the terrorists with a view to unmasking their sponsors and beneficiaries of their criminalities.”
CAN said in its recent visit to Sokoto and Kebbi states, and it was alarmed, surprised and shocked by the record that the criminals were killing and kidnapping with impunity in the area as if there was a pact between them and the security agencies.
“Now that both the leaderships of Christianity and Islam in the country are working together on how to stop their criminalities in the Northwest, they are now trying to introduce divisive ways by declaring war against Christians and churches in the zone especially in Zamfara State where they are gradually turning into their strongholds”, CAN said.
The Christian apex body said it has no problem with Islam or with Muslim brothers and sisters but with the handful of fanatics and their financiers who have declared war against Christianity.
The Association, however, appealed to all peace-loving Muslims to speak against those who are painting Islam what is not.
“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sanction any Commissioner of Police or Zonal Police Commanders and the Director of State Security Services wherever kidnappers operate in the country henceforth.
“This will go a long way in reducing the menace as we are approaching the Yuletide season. We have never had it this bad. We also called on the Federal government to refund all the ransom paid for the release of those who were abducted in the last five years.
“We reiterate our quest for the State Police in order to reduce the security burden on the Federal government-controlled Police. The Police has been overwhelmed with the menace of insecurity in the country.
“President Buhari should also direct the Police to arraign all suspected kidnappers, bandits and terrorists in their custody with a view to stopping those who are perpetrating the atrocities. Failure to do this will force the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to ask our members to embrace the principle of self-defence wherever the security agencies appeared compromised.
“Up till today, the perpetrators of the genocide in the Southern Kaduna are still walking freely despite the killings of hundreds of our members. We cannot be reduced to refugees in the country that belongs to us again.
“Finally, we call on all Christians and peace-loving Muslims to pray against their threats and for our security agencies to be able to stop all criminalities in the country. Enough is enough,” the statement added.
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